John, the Beloved Disciple - A Journey of Responsibility - Easter

For John, to be at the cross was to stand at a place of responsibility. What we need to first understand is that John stood at the cross restored. He, along with the other disciples, had forsaken Jesus and fled for their lives at the garden of Gethsemane. But, John came back to the cross.  Christians may stray and deny our Lord, but we can still come back to the cross. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. The cross is the place to go for forgiveness, deliverance and restoration.

For John to stand at the cross was probably not the safest place to stand or the easiest place to stand. It would have taken courage and love for John to come back to the cross. But remember what did John write years later in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Jesus not only restored John but he gave John some responsibility. Once you’ve known the truth of redemption, correction, and completion – there comes a great responsibility. You are to take responsibility for you actions….responsibility for the message…responsibility to care for others.

“John, you are going to take my place. I will no longer be on earth, to watch over my mother, so you are going to take my place. You are going to take my mother, and you are going to be a son to her.” - For John, the cross was a place of responsibility.

A journey to the cross is a journey of responsibility. All believers are taking His place here on earth. John 20:21 tells us that, “As my Father has sent me, even so, send I you.” You and I represent Jesus to others. To acknowledge the cross, is to acknowledge a place of responsibility. If you and I have come to the cross, we have a huge responsibility to love the Lord Jesus (because he has loved us on the cross), to love others (just like John loved Jesus’ mother), and to love others the same way Jesus loved us. The cross is indeed a place of responsibility.

Have you journeyed to the Cross of Responsibility? You know I love ya, Don

Taking responsibility is my job?

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

Acts 20:28 is a section of Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian elders and it is one of the most powerful in all the bible . . . .

God's elders are the guardians and watchmen of the doors of the church. It is also important to learn from this passage that if you are an elder or not...if you are a believer or not...God has paid a price for you and it is your responsibility to respond accordingly.  Paul says, in the next verse, that "fierce wolves" would come in, to disturb the flock.  So, what most one do?  They must first take heed to their own lives; and then to the congregations of Christ's church.  They must "be alert," (v. 31), awake, vigilant, diligent, and watchful.  The people of God are to pray for them, that their elders might faithfully discharge their duties.

All of us have plenty of reason to bless God, that He spares us from dangers about which we know nothing.  May He give us grace to be faithful in all things.

Puritan quote to ponder: "Men are by nature utterly careless of the glory of God.  They have no degree of concern for it.  A natural man never does any one thing out of true concern for the glory of God."   --Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "It Is Well For Us That God Is Not As We Are"

 Responsibility is an amazing task...but it is also worth every effort!!!

You know I love ya, Don

Special thanks to Mark Henniger's blog: http://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/2011/01/thurs-12011-devotion-acts-2028.html